The spirited world of mixology

GSN Backbar Review: April 6-10, 2015

AnCnoc single malt Scotch whisky, part of the International Beverage portfolio, is introducing a new expression in its Limited Edition Peaty Collection, called Cutter. Following Rutter and Flaughter in the Peaty series, Cutter is a peated Highland malt produced at the Knockdhu Distillery. It is the most heavily peated expression in the range to date, with a phenol content of 20.5 parts per million (compared with 11 to 15 parts per million for Rutter and Flaughter). AnCnoc Cutter (46% abv) is launching this month at a retail price of $85 a bottle.

Importer Southern Starz is debuting a new luxury gin, Los Apostoles, to the U.S. market. Crafted by Argentine mixologiest Tato Giovannoni, Los Apostoles is billed as a gin that is representative of the flavors of South America and mixes well with tropical ingredients. Retailing at $35 a bottle, it’s initially launching in Illinois, Texas, California, Florida, Connecticut, New York, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Private Cask Imports and CNS Imports have joined forces to launch Hong Kong Baijiu (HKB) in the U.S. market. Developed in 2013 by entrepreneur Charles Lanthier, HKB is billed as an “entry point” baijiu, created to introduce Western palates to the Chinese spirit. The 43%-abv offering, which is distilled in Sichuan, China, using sorghum, glutinous rice, rice, wheat and corn, is currently available throughout New York and California, priced at around $50 a 750-ml.

Campari America is augmenting Skyy vodka’s range with the launch of Skyy Barcraft, a new cocktail-inspired flavor line. Making its debut with three 60-proof expressions, Barcraft features Watermelon Fresca, Margarita Lime and White Sangria entries. According to Campari, the lineup is designed for use in simple, two-ingredient cocktails, created by mixing each Barcraft flavor with club soda. The trio will be available in 50-ml. (Watermelon Fresca and Margarita Lime only), 750-ml. and 1-liter formats, priced at around $18.49 a 750-ml.

Beam Suntory is extending its Cruzan rum portfolio with a new Blueberry Lemonade flavor, which is rolling out nationally. A blend of Cruzan rum with blueberries and citrus, the Blueberry Lemonade offering ($15 a 750-ml.) joins 14 existing flavors in the Cruzan stable. The Cruzan brand line also includes Single Barrel, Estate Diamond Aged Dark, Estate Diamond Aged Light, Aged Dark, Aged Light and Black Strap rums.

Luxco is targeting the high-end Bourbon market with a new brand proposition, Blood Oath. The franchise’s first product, Blood Oath Pact No. 1, is a blend of three Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskies ranging in age from six to 12 years. The blend, which is bottled at 98.6 proof and retails at $90 a 750-ml., is available nationally in limited quantities. Blood Oath will follow up its inaugural product with a new “Pact” offering each year.

Philadelphia-based New Liberty Distillery is entering four new markets.This month, the craft distiller’s Kinsey 7-year-old whiskey and Kinsey Rye whiskey labels will be available throughout South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland and Washington D.C., via Republic National Distributing Co. Inspired by post-Prohibition-style whiskies, Kinsey 7-year-old and Kinsey Rye both retail for $39.95 a bottle.

Louisville’s Copper & Kings American Brandy Co. has released a range of vapor-distilled absinthes.The new Copper & Kings absinthe lineup includes Ginger, Lavender and Citrus expressions, each flavored via a vapor distillation process using chopped ginger, lavender petals and citrus peels, respectively. Priced at $60 a 750-ml., the 130-proof trio will be available at select bars and retail locations across 10 markets throughout the South and Midwest. Copper & Kings’ Citrus Absinthe, Ginger Absinthe and Lavender Absinthe join the distillery’s flagship Absinthe Blanche ($54.99), Craft Distilled Brandy ($34.99) and Immature Brandy ($29.99) labels.

Seattle’s Westland Distillery, part of the Anchor Distilling portfolio, is adding two new expressions to its whiskey range, including a Peated American Single Malt and a Sherry Wood Single Malt. Both newcomers are 46% abv and retail at $70 a 750-ml. bottle. They join Westland’s flagship American Single Malt in the brand line.

Oregon-based Hood River Distillers is introducing a limited edition variant of its Pendleton whisky brand, which will raise funds for wounded or fallen American military veterans and their families. Launching next month, Pendleton’s 2015 limited edition retails at $27 a 750-ml. bottle. Hood River will donate a portion of the proceeds from the product to the Wrangler National Patriot program, supporting active military personnel and veterans. A Canadian whisky offering, Pendleton sells more than 150,000 cases in the U.S. market annually.

Syosset, New York’s Star Industries has entered the flavored whisky segment with a cinnamon-flavored product, Wild Flame. Made of blended whisky with cinnamon flavor, Wild Flame is 66 proof and retails at $15 a 1-liter. The new brand is now being distributed across the New York tri-state area.

Texas-based Garrison Brothers Distillery is releasing its Single Barrel Bourbon nationally after an initial launch in its home state. The three-year-old, 94-proof offering joins the company’s flagship Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey and is made from organic Texas Panhandle corn, soft red winter wheat, two-row malted barley and rainwater. The family-owned company says each barrel features a different flavor profile and retailers can sample and select one of 342 15-gallon barrels to be bottled for purchase. The barrels will first be made available in Texas, with the remainder sold outside the state. The bottles feature a silver star and include customizable silver labels featuring the buyer’s name, with Garrison Brothers printing the labels following a barrel reservation. The suggested retail price of Garrison Brothers Single Barrel is $109.99 a bottle and the cost of a barrel ranges from $5,300 to $8,900, depending on how much Bourbon it yields, which can range from 48–81 bottles.

San Diego-based Old Harbor Distilling is hitting the market with its first product, San Miguel Southwestern Gin.Branded under the name originally given to San Diego in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, San Miguel Southwestern Gin is bottled at 94 proof and retails at $26 a 750-ml. bottle. Initially, the gin will be available in the San Diego area with wider distribution planned over the course of this year. Old Harbor plans to gradually increase its spirits portfolio in the months ahead, with new additions to include Ampersand, a coffee liqueur, and Barrelman, a 114-proof, navy-strength rum that will also be released in a barrel-aged version.